How to Make Money Selling Vinyl Records

Vinyl records are big in demand right now. This isn’t us just being biased (although we are)… it’s true! For the first time in almost 40 years, vinyl records outpaced CDs as the most popular medium for music. There’s no single reason for this, but we believe there is a common thread that ties all of those reasons together—vinyl just sounds better.

Whether it’s nostalgic old-timers who want to relieve simpler, hazier days, millennials trying to increase their hipster cred, or just general music snobs, more and more people are turning to the rich, full sounds of vinyl. The market for vinyl is huge and only seems to be growing, making now the perfect time to sell those records in your attic.

If you’re interested in exchanging those records for quick, easy cash, 7th Heaven can help! We have an entire floor dedicated to vinyl records and we’re always looking to add to our collection. While you probably won’t become rich selling us your vinyl, there are definitely things you can do to get the most out of those old records sitting in the attic.

We’ve been Kansas City’s go-to for everything vinyl for over 40 years, and we can provide you with some tips on how to make money selling your vinyl records in Kansas City.

Condition is Key

Making sure your records are in good condition is one of the most important things you can do to make a profit when selling your records in Kansas City. 

When you’re selling any item, there are certain things you can’t control. What you can control is how well you take care of your product! And before you ask, a tattered record doesn’t add to the “vintage” appeal. It just makes your record look like trash.

Your record’s condition will be rated on codes. Sealed or mint condition records are going to be your best bet to make some cash. So, you’re selling any records that haven’t been opened or have barely been used, your odds of getting something substantial in return are going to increase.

For those that don’t have that luxury, that doesn’t mean all is lost! You can still make money from records so long as you take care of them. Some easy things you can do to take care of your record include:

  • Don’t leave your records sitting out. Instead, put them in their jacket after each use.
  • Clean your record with an actual record cleaning brush, which you can get at 7th Heaven.
  • Store your records in an upright position. Slanting them or laying them flat can cause damage to the record.
  • Don’t stack records on top of one another. This puts both the record and the jacket at potential risk of damage.
  • Store your records in a cool, dry place.

Some of these tips may seem like no-brainers, but they’re easy to forget when you’re lost in the music! Following these steps will ensure that you get the most out of your used records, both while you’re enjoying them yourself, and when it comes time to say goodbye.

 

Know The Demand

This is pretty much just simple economics. Your record is going to be worth more money if the demand is high. Usually, the vinyl records that are in most demand are the ones from big-name artists or ones that are harder to find. 

Vinyl records from Elvis Presley, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, and similar bands are generally going to do better on the resale market. Genre also plays a factor as well, with Woodstock-era bands tending to do well. Basically, your best bet is going to come from artists with long-term staying power. 

That’s not necessarily a hard and fast rule, however. Records can also be valuable if they come from artists who’ve shown to have an influence in the music industry. For example, some of the most valuable vinyl albums come from artists like Frank Wilson or The Velvet Underground, who weren’t necessarily popular in their time. 

Such is the case with those particular artists, value can also come from scarcity. Wilson’s Do I Love You (Indeed I Do) is one of the most expensive records of all time, because of both his influence and how rare the record is to be found. So, if you happen to have rare records from a popular artist, you could be looking at serious cash.

More likely, though, you probably have something like Michael Jackson’s Thriller or Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon laying around. That’s perfectly okay too! To this day, those are two of the most popular selling vinyl albums. As long as the album you’re selling is in good shape, you can make some money selling popular albums from popular artists  

Know The Info of Your Record

With that being said, not all Dark Side of the Moon albums are created equal. This album in particular has been released on vinyl hundreds of different times, with certain versions selling for much higher amounts than others.

Information such as the pressing number, year, label, and country, all of which can be found on the record itself or cover, will go a long way toward determining the value of your record. 

Typically, the lower the pressing number, the more your record will be worth as this indicates an earlier edition. Certain labels also tend to do better on the resale market as well due to the demand coming from collectors, such as Island Records or Vertigo Records. 

Year and country of release can also play a factor in how much money you receive. For instance, a copy of Who’s Next by The Who will probably be worth more if the version you have is from the 1970s, rather than today. 

A foreign version of your album may also be worth more money, due to the fact that it offers a unique feature for collectors. Foreign versions of vinyl records might also offer slight variations from the more commonly seen U.S. and United Kingdom releases, such as different titles or covers. 

Other Factors That Impact Value

In addition to everything we’ve already talked about already, there are other things to look for that determine how much money you can make. 

Autographs

This is one of the more obvious factors. If you have an Elvis Presley record that’s signed by Elvis Presley, there’s probably a pretty decent chance you’ll see a good return. Be careful with this, though. There are a lot of albums with counterfeit signatures out there, which don’t bring any additional value to the album.

Additionally, signatures with personalized messages tend to bring down the value. If your Aunt Jess has a Beatles record signed by Paul McCartney, that’s pretty awesome for your Aunt, but it won’t bring nearly as much if it says “To Jess” on it. Also, maybe don’t sell that record because having a personalized Paul McCartney autographed record is pretty cool

Genre

We touched on this a bit earlier, but it bears repeating that certain genres are going to get you more money than others. Having an old record from the 1950’s may be cool and unique, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s worth anything.

Easy listening and comedy records from back then are a good example of this. Both genres were popular during this time, but haven’t had the staying power of other genres. Typically, rock, blues, jazz, and punk records tend to do well in terms of collectibility.

Mono vs. Stereo

Mono vs. Stereo is a difference in the album’s format. All records today are released in stereo format. Back in the day, however, there was about a decade or so when records were released in both. You’ll be able to see what version of the album you have by checking the cover of an album. 

The main difference between the two is in sound. To make it really simple, Mono records are more centered, meaning if you have two speakers, a record in mono will sound the same on both sides. Stereo format pans out sounds, giving the record a more atmospheric field.

Which one is worth more? It really depends. Some collectors prefer the mono version because of the sound and the authenticity to the era. In the 1960s, mono records were mixed differently than stereo. For instance, Beatles records tend to be more valuable on Mono because that’s how they were originally recorded.

However, to some, stereo is more valuable because of that atmospheric sound, which can make the listener feel like they’re experiencing it live. Whichever version you have, 7th Heaven can help you out and get you a fair, honest price.

Get started with making money on your used vinyl at 7th Heaven in Kansas City

There has never been a better time than now to sell your vinyl records in Kansas City! If you’re thinking about cashing in, selling your used vinyl locally at 7th Heaven is the best and quickest option. Our expert staff can help with any questions you may have about the selling process, and you won’t find a friendly group of people in town.

And once you’ve sold after you’ve sold us your records and made a little money, you can head up to check out the best smoke shop and sex shop in Kansas City. 

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